The New Yorker

LA Times

Variety

Chicago Tribune

The New Yorker

“Plays like Searching for Sugarman but with almost instantly iconic photographs instead of music.”

The Hollywood Reporter

“Riveting. A Fascinating portrait. As captivating as it is haunting.”

Times Colonist

“An aptly obsessive study of obsession.”

Variety

Trailer

Story

Finding Vivian Maier is the critically acclaimed documentary about a mysterious nanny, who secretly took over 100,000 photographs that were hidden in storage lockers and, discovered decades later, is now among the 20th century’s greatest photographers. Directed by John Maloof and Charlie Siskel, Maier’s strange and riveting life and art are revealed through never before seen photographs, films, and interviews with dozens who thought they knew her.

Maier’s massive body of work would come to light when in 2007 her work was discovered at a local thrift auction house on Chicago’s Northwest Side. From there, it would eventually impact the world over and change the life of the man who championed her work and brought it to the public eye, John Maloof.

Currently, Vivian Maier’s body of work is being archived and cataloged for the enjoyment of others and for future generations. John Maloof is at the core of this project after reconstructing most of the archive, having been previously dispersed to the various buyers attending that auction. Now, with roughly 90% of her archive reconstructed, Vivian’s work is part of a renaissance in interest in the art of Street Photography.

“Haunting and Powerful. A fascinating tale. (Critic’s Pick)”The Village Voice

“Riveting documentary about one of the 20th century’s greatest photographers. It’s no ordinary artist biopic. Haunting.”Indiewire

“More connect-the-dots detective thriller than traditional doc, John Maloof and Charlie Siskel’s revelatory riddle of a film unmasks a brilliant photographer who hid in plain sight.”Entertainment Weekly

“My discovery of the Toronto Film Festival. A compelling story.”Filmmaker Magazine

“Absorbing. Unsettling. Delightful.”Planet Magazine

“5 stars”Times Colonist (Canada)

“Riveting. A Fascinating portrait. As captivating as it is haunting.”Times Colonist (Canada)

“Expertly navigated documentary.”Huffington Post

“An engrossing story of a complex person.”Row Three

“The best of both worlds… The undiscovered artist and the probing investigative mystery.”Criterioncast

“A great detective story”Christian Science Monitor

“Gripping”LA Times

“Apt and witty … The movie’s true power comes from her images, by turns melancholy, sympathetic, funny and sharp.”New York Post

“As fascinating for unraveling the life of its mysterious subject as it is for revealing her finely-observed photos.”Variety

“Remarkable. The film is shrewd, expertly crafted and easily one of the best films I saw this Berlinale.”Cinema Gumbo

“Fascinating. A picture emerges of an artist both brilliant and flawed. Maier’s photos alone are worth the price of admission.”Metrosource Magazine

“The story unfolds first as an adventure, later as a mystery, then as near tragedy as this artist kept her work to herself, and finally as something of a triumph, as exhibitions of her work have been selling out throughout the world.”Santa Monica Daily Press

“Remarkable. Fascinating. Slowly unravels the secrets of Maier’s very private personae with the aplomb of a great mystery.”Utne Reader

“So definitive and assured that there will likely never need to be another look at her life than this. It might be the first time a documentary about an artist has gotten everything right on the first try.”Andrew Parker

“An absolute must see.”Pretty Clever Films

Awards

Academy Awards, USA

Nominated
Oscar

Best Documentary, Feature
John Maloof
Charlie Siskel

BAFTA Awards - 2015

Nominated
BAFTA Film Award

Best Documentary

American Cinema Editors, USA - 2015

Nominated
Eddie

Best Edited Documentary - Feature
Aaron Wickenden

Central Ohio Film Critics Association - 2015

Nominated
COFCA Award

Best Documentary

Cinema Eye Honors Awards, US - 2015

Won
Cinema Eye Honors Award

Outstanding Achievement in a Debut Feature Film
John Maloof
Charlie Siskel

Nominated
Cinema Eye Audience Choice Prize

John Maloof
Charlie Siskel

Detroit Film Critic Society, US - 2014

Nominated
DFCS Award

Best Documentary

Dublin Film Critics Circle Awards - 2014

Won
DFCC

Best Documentary

Edinburgh International Film Festival - 2014

Nominated
Audience Award

John Maloof
Charlie Siskel

Georgia Film Critics Association (GFCA) - 2015

Nominated
GFCA Award

Best Documentary

International Documentary Association - 2014

Won
Creative Recognition Award

Best Writing
John Maloof
Charlie Siskel

Nominated
IDA Award

Best Feature
John Maloof
Charlie Siskel

Miami Film Festival - 2014

Won
Grand Jury Prize

Knight Documentary Competition
Charlie Siskel
John Maloof

Palm Springs International Film Festival - 2014

Won
John Schlesinger Award

John Maloof
Charlie Siskel

Nominated
Audience Award

Best Documentary Feature
John Maloof
Charlie Siskel

San Francisco Film Critics Circle - 2014

Nominated
SFFCC Award

Best Documentary

Satellite Awards - 2014

Nominated
Satellite Award

Best Motion Picture, Documentary

Shanghai International TV Festival - 2014

Won
Magnolia Award

Special Jury Award for Documentary
John Maloof
Charlie Siskel

Nominated
Magnolia Award

Best Documentary
John Maloof
Charlie Siskel

St. Louis Film Critics Association, US - 2014

Nominated
SLFCA Award

Best Documentary Feature Film

Contact

JOHN MALOOF

John Maloof is a filmmaker and photographer. He is the chief curator of Vivian Maier’s work and editor of the book Vivian Maier: Street Photographer. Finding Vivian Maier (13) is his directorial debut.

CHARLIE SISKEL

Charlie Siskel is a television and film producer. His producing credits include the Academy Award-winning Bowling for Columbine (02), and Religulous (08). Finding Vivian Maier (13) is his directorial debut.

US EDUCATIONAL: If you are interested in acquiring a copy of Finding Vivian Maier for your institution, to show the film, or would like to book a director talk, please contact Lauren.Schwartz@ifcfilms.com

INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL: If you are interested in acquiring a copy of Finding Vivian Maier for your institution, to show the film, or would like to book a director talk outside of the US, please contact Mark Lane info@hanwayfilms.com

PHOTO PRINT INQUIRY: If you are interested in purchasing a Vivian Maier print or would like to organize an exhibit of her work, please contact the Howard Greenberg Gallery info@howardgreenberg.com

GENERAL INQUIRIES: For general inquiries about the Vivian Maier Archive, please contact the archive manager at admin@vivianmaier.com